01-05-2014

Companies behind LNG Canada formalize JV

Shell Canada Energy (Shell), PetroChina Corporation, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and Mitsubishi Corporation have today announced, in the presence of Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia and Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier, the signing of a joint venture agreement to develop a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project – LNG Canada. The new operating entity, LNG Canada Development Inc., is incorporated and registered under the federal laws of Canada. The proposed project, to be located in Kitimat, British Columbia, is subject to regulatory approvals and a Final Investment Decision by the joint venture.
 
LNG Canada continues to bring together the four companies’ extensive development experience, technical depth, financial strength and access to markets required to be a leading LNG developer in Canada. The signing of the joint venture agreement is an important milestone for the project as it formalizes the joint venture and creates an operating entity that enables LNG Canada to progress the project and enter into agreements with potential suppliers and contractors. The project’s corporate offices will continue to be located in Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta, with the project office based in Kitimat, British Columbia.
 
“While we are in the early evaluation process and a decision to build the project is still a while away, this agreement reinforces our commitment to developing an LNG facility in British Columbia and allows us to proceed with the next steps in our project assessment,” said Andy Calitz, CEO LNG Canada. “We will need to continue to work closely with the provincial and federal government to ensure that the project is economically viable, as well as working closely with First Nations, the local communities, and regulatory agencies, and move forward on a number of commercial agreements and contracts. We remain cautiously enthusiastic about the potential opportunity in B.C. and look forward to exploring it further.”
 
The demand for natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel, remains high in Asia and other global markets. LNG Canada would deliver a project that offers a new source of competitively priced LNG to global markets, while providing benefits to Canada, British Columbia and its coastal region.
 
“These four companies are working together to realize the immense potential of B.C.’s LNG – an industry that could create up to 100,000 jobs overall in our province by exporting clean, reliable energy to the growing economies across the Pacific,” said Premier Christy Clark. “There’s more work to do, but momentum is clearly on our side.”
 
While there is considerable work that still needs to be done prior to the four companies making a Final Investment Decision, the initial technical work has now been completed, land has been acquired, the Project Description has been submitted and the Environmental Assessment is currently underway.
 
“Today is an important step forward for LNG Canada and we are pleased to join PetroChina, KOGAS and Mitsubishi – strong LNG companies in their own right – to move this project forward together. LNG Canada must compete across a portfolio of global options but we remain optimistic that with the continued co-operation of all interested parties LNG Canada can offer a valuable global market for Canadian natural gas,” commented Jorge Santos Silva, Executive Vice President Shell Upstream Americas Commercial, New Business Development and Integrated Gas.
 
“It is a great pleasure and honour to work closely with Shell, KOGAS and Mitsubishi Corporation. This milestone signifies our strong alignment and though we come from different corners of the world, we are confident that we will continue to step forward together” said Bi Jingshuang, Director - Legal Department of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC, who represents PetroChina. )
 
“LNG Canada, if realized, has the potential to play an important role in meeting the energy needs of Japan and other countries that rely heavily on LNG, and we are pleased with this achievement,” stated Hiroki Haba, Vice President, Natural Gas Business Division, Mitsubishi Corporation. “Together with the significant investments we have been making in the upstream sectors in western Canada, Mitsubishi Corporation remains fully committed to making the project a success.”
 
“The project provides a great chance to enhance energy supply security for countries, including Korea, which are always in need of stable energy sources. LNG Canada is committed to the development of a sustainable project providing benefits to local and global communities alike,” added Jongkook Lim, Vice President, LNG Business Department, Korea Gas Corporation.
 
Upon signing the Joint Venture Agreement, the joint venture partners’ respective interests in the project have been updated, with Shell now holding 50%, PetroChina 20% and each of KOGAS and Mitsubishi Corporation holding 15%.